China Railway Tunnel Group awarded contract to build Prince Edward Station with the lowest bid at S$310.8 million

On Monday (Oct 9), the Land Transport Authority announced that the China Railway Tunnel Group (Singapore Branch) won a S$310.8 million contract to build the Prince Edward Station and two tunnels on the Circle Line.

Among the eight shortlisted tenderers, their bid was the lowest. Ssangyong Engineering & Construction Co Ltd came in the nearest to the winning bid, at about S$25 million more.

This has caused some to believe that the reason why China Railway Tunnel Group was awarded the contract is solely due to the low cost of its bid.

Earlier this year in July, an uncompleted viaduct had collapsed, killing one and injuring 10. Despite having a low safety score, the contractor had won the bid with the lowest tender price.

This also comes after a long spate of train disruptions and a flood from rainwater along the North-South line after the pumping system failed over the weekend.

China Railway Tunnel Group (Singapore Branch) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Railway Group Limited, one of the largest companies specialising in underground works in China. It has completed highways, urban rails and public construction projects across China.

The group recently completed an underpass for the Havelock Station of the Thomson-East Coast Line using Singapore’s first Rectangular Tunnel Boring Machine.

Another underpass at Stevens Station of the Thomson-East Coast Line is currently being constructed using the same method.

Prince Edward Station is one of three stations on the Circle Line 6, a 4km route that will connect HarbourFront to Marina Bay.

Construction for the three-storey underground station at Palmer Road and two tunnels, which will connect the station to Cantonment Station, is set to begin by the end of this year and expected to be completed by 2025.